Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-31

he 20 to her? Should he speak to her? All
the dreadful au]ticipatious of his fever
faucies olOwdediu upon him. No, he could
not 20 to her. But if Helen should lose
her sight again from grief at her not seeing
him, II was only tor this that she had
wished to see-ihat she might SEE him,
Gut if she saw him, An agonil,ug dread
shot through him like a fiery arrow. The
disappointment, the horror which the sight
of him would inspire, might not that too
prove dangerous Ia hcr-might not that too
deprive her Of her sight. The question
Seemed benumbiug, ovrrw helming. lie
could ~nutunswer il. Yet whether it was
well for Helen 20 see him or not, he
could not 20 away without seeing
Helen. lie took hold teebly OF the
alder bushes and raised himself up; then
tottered over to the nearest window, 1t
was close to the ground and he could
look in without difficulty. Before the
hearth, upon which a fire was burning, sat
the old grandmother with Helen's head
resting in her lap. She was stroking the
girl's hair and talking sOothingly to her.
"Dinua cry, lassie, she Was saying,
he will come yet; crying will put ont thy
pretty eyes again, Just is We got 'em bright
and capable
NO one cares tor me, granny, and |
cannot help but cry"
shame ou thee, la,-ie, shame. II he
dimna care Tor thee dost tina think he would
ha' work,t himself to death to give thee
thy sight back again
'CrIumyr'
The girl sprang up with 4 joyous cry.
Her lace was ~ il transformed. Radiance,
rapture, the enchanting certainty of being
loved shuue out OF her dark, sea blue eyes,
impaIriug to them a strange, touching
beauty.
20 granny she cried, sinking down at
the old womun's feet, why did you not
tell me-
"Dmua he 80 workit up about it, lassIe, "
said her grandmother, evaStNrly, wait till
tina hast seen him ,
II always thought Of hin. ~ beautiful,
slld Helen, staring radirntly into the fire
"hut il matters not now whether he be
beautiful ur no, | shall love hlm-love
hlm-luve him, even though he be ugly
aud crooked As a gnOme.'
She gave a little start as she uttered the
words, and pressed her hands suddenly
over her eyes.
They hurt me, granny, ~ she said.
''It Is the tire, llSSic. Go out into the
star light. That is soft, aud good ior poor
eyes
oh, the blessed relief. The removal of
the t]urturing doubt which had held him 50
long in its clutch was 30 sudden that II be
wildcrrd hun. He could not at once
adjust his mind to it. And yet in the
midst OF his darkness there is u great lu-
mlnous spot, which grows and grows until
il fills his soul with light. lie staggerS
away from the window in hlssiul
ntoNicatiun aud places himself in front OF
the door. The mOouShlne pours down
upon him and his shadow stretches, black
and g~rote~que, over the grass. With his
eyes liked upon the door, he stands tremh-
ling, burning, Shivering. His blood surges
and throh- in his ears. The door Is open
ed, aud Helen becomes visible against the
dusk within. lie takes 4 step forward.
Mrrciful tod. she must see him now
With 4 cry ne tumble4 toward her and
clasps her in his arms.
Helen, beloved Look nj me, hideOuS
though ! am, | am not afraid now.
She strains her eyes, she rdbs them des-
perltcly, she lifts them to the stars. \
look OF terror passes over her cOuutrnance
''Oh, Harold she shricks, 81 cannot
see YOU
II was as if the night had suddenly
eugullrd him, IL grows black before his
ewes. but in the far distance there is 4
blood red strip a. OF dawn. After a
while, through the mists that inWrap In,
consciousness comes 4 yugu" blisslul sen
satiuu. Soft fingers glide caressingly uveI
his face, soft lips are warmly pressed
against lips. His body grows light u,
air aud he floats upward-upward through
suulit space. Stars shoot with dizlyiug
speed across the sky, drawing long lumin.
Gus trails behind them. He rise,
Uses upward through the swing.
ing void. The world grows
dim beneath his feet. Well nigh m
hom had passed when her grandmother
oprued the door aud found Helen sitting
upon the grass, holding in her arms a pale
and shriyrlcd form. She started forward
and SAW hy the light OF the moon that II
was Crooked John. His thve seemed
strangely calm, except Tor Il strained eN'
preston about his mouth. She stopped
down in terror and put her hand upon In
forehead. Crooked John was dead.
May God bless thee, poor lad, W wins
perrt the old woman deyoutly, and give
thee peace. 49, HodmT II. Boyes'a m Th'
C,aiurg.